The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025/6 Part 4

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 4. We Continue our CC journey. We are almost at the end, as there are only four chapters of the book left, but there will be a year round thread for those who wish to continue.

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.
The Christmas Chronicles (Notes, stories and 100 essential recipes for midwinter) book began on 1st November.

We continue to read along and comment with the book which is set out in diary form. I will make a post each day (or let you know if there is no entry on a particular day)

For anyone new, (and it's never too late to join in) it's a challenge to see of you can pick up the book as a bargain. Vinted has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is always a bonus. Don't forget, you can also listen along to Nigel's dulcet tones via Audible.

So, welcome to old friends and new, and don't forget that reading by candle light is particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nige's candles of choice, but it's somewhat pricey. We don't discriminate against other less expensive brands - even if they are NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair, light a candle, grab a cosy blanket and join in!

Happy Candlemas! Finished CC over breakfast. Somehow aware that Nigel was born in the 50s and yet can't believe he's nearly 70!

That is a stunning lasagne @RainbowZebraWarrior

Your DS's cooking sounds great @PrizedPickledPopcorn

Historically I am not a fan of February, but it feels like the start of a new season this year - the lighter mornings/ evenings are noticeable and everything feels like it's moving towards spring.

The lasagne was amazing, I have to say. It iss the nuts and seeds that make it I think. Also, DD reigned me in on the amount of cheese I usually use. Less is more and all that. It will definitely be a weekly staple, now.

I had a dream that I went on a canal boating holiday with Jarvis Cocker. I guess that's my brain reminding me that Pulp are on Piano Room later this morning.

@confusedmeanderings I did think about you and the fact that you had just left. Don't worry, the weather is back to being vile again today. I have to admit that I prefer my beaches empty in the winter. The barbecues, beer and litter left in the summer months mean that I stay well clear of some of them, other than in early morning. Hoping to get some beach combing done this week, if the rain ever let's up.

I'm pleased it's February as I've been able to start a new chapter in my lovely almanac, I can say to DD that we break uo for half term next Friday, and I love the thought that it is March next month. I absolutely adore Spring and am champing at the bit to get into the garden. I almost attempted to plant some bare root fruit trees yesterday as it was dry. The garden is just too soggy and boggy though.

I’m off to get my CC to enjoy with a cuppa, in bed.
I meant to say yesterday, @RainbowZebraWarrior , that medical advance sounds amazing! I think we are at a rather optimistic point in medicine, we seem to be on the brink of several life changing treatments. I’m keen for the tablet (and therefore far cheaper) form of the WLI. There seem to be some auto immune things being looked at. But maybe that’s just the stuff I read- hope in the chronic illness community. I wonder whether AI is pushing some of these treatments along, just that bit faster?

Hmm, he really captures that early morning pause. And makes me want to make ice cream. I’d be tempted by a Ninja Creami (if that’s what it’s called) if I could get one cheap on FB!

Speaking of cheap, as he described being brought a variety of delicious treats some of which weren’t quite what he asked for, I realised I wouldn’t be able to enjoy that because of worry about what I’d be charged. I generally don’t choose the item I’d most like, but the one that’s best value. A friend was talking about the cost of holidays because she doesn’t like to say no to her DC when they are on holiday. I don’t have those kinds of memories, where on special occasions you indulge in whatever you want because it’s a special occasion.

One reason I really enjoy the cruises we’ve been on is the all inclusive food. You can have whatever you want without thinking of the cost or whether you’ll like it. If you don’t like something you’ve ordered, it really doesn’t matter. There will be something else you do like. It’s the antithesis of Nigel, I suppose!

Gosh, I’m cheap. Sigh.

Thank you for thinking of me @RainbowZebraWarrior and @Bimblesalong
I've been able to read but not comment or react. Have hopefully got it set up that (until someone moves anything) it works, and am going to leave it on! Things aren't great, but today's hopefully a nice one in a couple of ways.

Will try and catch up properly later as am about to be collected*, but in the meantime:

Accepted I couldn't get the tree down after our twelfth night, and have been enjoying and taking comfort from it's light, splendor and joy as a reminder that beautiful things can be built in dark corners in difficult situations, if it matters enough. Happily it's only the last few days it's even considered starting to droop, and as long as the actual tree and greenery are out for Candlemass we're covered,
So it's all outside, and putting away ornaments properly and dealing with it will have to wait as - Happy Candlemas!
We started today with a tradition of one candle and crepes and then the youngest taking that candle around to light all the rest, as we only use candlelight until tomorrow morning.
There will be lots of different crepes today, but *I'm being taken out to supervise and help getting one of the people I work with set up into the home, that lots of work and a final push, resulted in them being finally being granted. There are no grants or loans anymore so they have nothing in the way of furniture or fittings, and are disabled to boot, so we're going to see what can be done. Another finally got housed a few weeks back, left in the same situation, but that it's happened at all is a massive win.

Apart from apart from a minor celebration on the 15th) Candlemas puts us back in line with most I think.
We say 'on Candlemas, it's better to see a wolf than the sun', and if we 'have half our wood, corn and hay, we'll survive to eat by light of day!'

'If Candlemas Day be fair and bright. Winter will give another fight; If Candlemas Day be foul and rain, Winter's away and won't come again.'

It's a grey wet start so far, which is reassuring as our more modern than wood, corn and hay, ready reckoner of what we should still have to fall back on at this point of the year, is woefully short.

Catch up later, the deity of computers willing.

'If Candlemas Day be fair and bright. Winter will give another fight; If Candlemas Day be foul and rain, Winter's away and won't come again.' - well, this is comforting @EphemeraleEudemonia because it is indeed foul here!

I totally get you on the spending @PrizedPickledPopcorn - I was bought up to always go for the cheapest of everything, which has been useful at times, but I think has led to false economies (buy cheap, buy twice, as they say), guilt about spending, and, yes, just missing out on things.

So good to hear from you @EphemeraleEudemonia and thanks as always for the quotes. I love hearing about your traditions. Might try and do the Candlelight only this evening.

Im also with you on the saving money / buying cheapest / being mean with myself and also panic when I don't know what the price of something would be @PrizedPickledPopcorn Also agree about All Inclusive, although that turned out to be a waste of money still with DD. I see folk out and about clutching takeaway coffees all the time and couldn't contemplate 'wasting' money every day on such fripperies / unnecessary expenses. (As I see it) Of course wasting money on Pokemon cards on the other hand... Oh, and I also have issues with newsprint. Yuck!

More honey jars to do here. They are bought new so at least not labels. (We only sell with nee jars, and give away honey to our farmers with old / recycled, but still obviously sterilised jars) the price of honey jars has doubled in the past 5 years. Like everything else, I guess.

Gosh, I think this is the first time I've kept up with CC right to the end. I've probably cooked/baked less from the book this year, but read more.

I am envious of Nigel's travels to Japan - it is my ultimate bucket list destination. Hopefully I'll get there one day.

I've loved reading about the Lake District. DH and I are going for a week in March. It's a place we visit frequently, usually for 1-2 nights but this time we're making an actual holiday of it. It's so beautiful and I can feel my blood pressure reducing and stress ebbing, when I'm in the area.

I'm also looking forward to Pulp in the Piano Room - will be catching up on the Sounds App this evening. Can't wait to hear what cover version they play. I missed every opportunity to see them in the 90s despite being a huge fan, but have seen them twice in the last couple of years - both amazing experiences and one in particular will go down as possible the best gig I've ever seen. I also recommend Jarvis' autobiography Good Pop Bad Pop - there is a lot of focus on objects and clothes, mainly bought from jumble sales and charity shops, and how each relates to a specific period in Jarvis' life. It appealed to my inner charity shop/car boot sale rummager.

RZW, that lasagne looks and sounds incredible! I made a glazed ham last night - normally an early January tradition in our house but I was so ill for the first half of the month, it ended up being delayed. I love the process of simmering the ham and then studding it with cloves. Made a treacle, orange and ginger glaze and served with broccoli cheese and roasties. Very indulgent but very good. The stock from the simmer will become a carrot and lentil soup.

I took a long walk yesterday - 20 miles on a meandering route which took me along the canal and then into the hills. Spring is definitely just around the corner; there were clumps of daffodils ready to explode in colour, as well as crocuses and green buds on almost every tree and shrub. The gorse has already started to flower and I just love that scent - which reminds me, I really want to get myself a St Eval Wild Gorse candle for the spring.

I also treated myself to a new dryrobe and swimsuit. Now that my sniffles are gone and I'm properly geared up again, there's no excuse for not getting in the water soon. It's funny, I've been cold water swimming for around 6 years now but taking a break at this time of year, in particular, is difficult and the fear of the cold has set in - I always say that doing it regularly is like the opposite of the boiling a frog analogy; you acclimatise quickly and don't notice the changes week by week.

I miss the Lakes. I am contemplating if I can get to Keswick with DD at some point myself. It's one of my favourite places and I took for granted that I used to be able to nip there and climb mountains every other weelend. Now therr are so many factors to take into consideration.

I've bet DD that Jarvis will do Jolene, or another countrt number. I won't post a spoiler though as it's about to listen now, and I see you'll be catching up later @PricklyBob

Oooh can I also say thank you so much @PricklyBob One Jarvis Audible book has now duly been downloaded. Surely Jarvis is the best voice to read an audio book ever? Would never have thought to look for it! I am so looking forward to rewarding myself with a 20 minute listen when my day is done. Hope you find the wild gorse candle and enjoy getting back into the water. I bought my dry robe during the start of the first lockdown, but my joints and bones now can't tolerate cold water. The pain is excruciating. Sad as I used to love iced plunge pools and swimming in cold water.

I’d been building up cold plunges at the spa I go to, but they are temporarily closed to deal with a H&S issue. I’ll need to restart, but at least I know it’s achievable and doesn’t at the moment cause me issues like you, RZW. I never did the cold bucket that is also fitted, for fear of going down like a ton of bricks with the shock.
I was quite unaware of the scent of gorse. I’ll need to look out for it now. My favourite under rated scented plant is Coronilla. It has a powerful scent like honeysuckle or jasmine, and blooms through the winter. I had one by my back foot and the whole area smelt lovely in the depths of winter. I must get one. Maybe even today. <flicks through plant catalogues trying to ignore the cost of them all 🤣>. I’m behind on several roses and a coronilla, hindered by decision fatigue and the cost of postage! Ridiculous. We aren’t broke. Just tight!

We are actually planning a spending budget to shift our attitude away from saving. The plan is for us each to have a fun pot that we… must spend. 😬

I think I will manage, what with Vinted, gardening and catch ups with friends. DH however will struggle.

Oh, and what’s in your super veg lasagne, @RainbowZebraWarrior ? Are the seeds throughout or just on top?

We decided to go with seeds just on the top in the end. Might mix some throughout next time. Started with Sautéed onion, peppers, celery and garlic. Added some chunky chopped fresh tomatoes, a can of plum tomatoes, frozen, chopped spinach, plenty of ground pepper, some cayenne, little bit of thyme. Added a jar of this new sauce that waitrose are doing. It's a plant based pasta sauce and also a plant seasoning they have just started doing. Added in some spring onions. At this point I would have added mushrooms and aubergine, but DD wanted to leave it at this. Layered it up. Added grated red Leicester with black pepper and some crumbled extra mature cheese, then added crumbled walnuts and mixed seeds. I feel like I've missed something out, but it's one of those recipes where you can obviously add what you like. Anyway, I then let the assembled lasagne stand for just over an hour as its softens the lasagne sheets (assuming you're using dried) then it had exactly 40 minutes on the bottom shelf of a hot oven whilst roast potatoes went on the top shelf. Note the absence of the bechamel layer; DD isn't keen on creamy cheesy sauces so we omitted. I think I preferred it without.

This is the plant sauce and plant seasoning. Obviously not needed, we just fancied trying them as im trying to get DD to expand her horizons and we like to have some quick wins to hand too. There's carrots and aubergine in the sauce among other stuff.

Interesting that you miss out the bechamel sauce in the vegetable lasagne, because we do the same with a meat one and I much prefer it.

And I love the idea of a fun pot that must be spent @PrizedPickledPopcorn

My old dryrobe (I say dryrobe but it was another brand- the old Hoover syndrome) was an over the head, ponch style. It is incredibly warm and good for changing once inside but really cumbersome for taking on.and off, so i have upgraded to a coat style. Just hope it will still be as warm, it feels a lot thinner and lighter.

I struggled to find a new option as all the reviews seemed to focus on using the robe for dog walking in the rain. Good to know about warmth and waterproofness but I wanted to know about wicking away water when you come out of the north sea on a winters morning.

I also saw Jarvis talk about his book at the Edinburgh Book Festival a few years ago- he's so charismatic and i remain as smitten as i was in the 90s.

Gorse has an almost coconutty scent - it's incredible when you find a hillside ablaze with yellow flowers and the air is heady with the scent. I bought a gorse candle from another brand last year but it's cloying and artificial. I had a sniff of the St Eval candle before Christmas and kicking myself for not buying it at the time as it seemed lovely. Now it's not available in the shop and I can't find it elsewhere.

Isle of Bute gorse gin is also very nice.

Excellent tip on standing the lasagne. It’s gone on this week’s food list. I’m trying to plan food instead of food logging, and to make sure I make all the things I have been meaning to… all those salads and healthy snacks I was going to have in the fridge…

So this week, I will be making celeriac, apple and walnut slaw, ordinary coleslaw, carrot soy and peanut butter slaw, and bean salad.
I also have ryvita and tofu, cold chicken and mozzarella in the fridge. Oh, and jacket potatoes. That should mean that we have tasty healthy snacks and lunches all week. I say we, but mean me. DH likes a cheese sandwich with exactly the right number of slices of tomato, lettuce and a smear of peanut butter. Every day.

Ooh, I can still do the cold bucket and love the 'shock' I just can't stand or be submerged for long in cold water as the pain in my ankles and shins is intense. I also like getting my hairdresser to do a 5 minute very cold rinse on my hair, too.

I have the original dryrobe in camouflage with pink fluffy inner and I love it @PricklyBob It's brilliant for its purpose, but of course everyone buys them now for walking dogs and watching kids play footy. Can't say I blame them. There's the unfortunate snobbyness and name that goes wirh wearing them for the apparent wrong purpose. One of the teachers at school has the same one as me and we eyeballed each other this morning. The kids were being directed in the front entrance as it was pouring down, and the back entrance is a long walk. Another teacher had a puffa style jacket on, and when she came in, the rain had soaked completely through her coat to her clothing.

My mother says I look like 'man mountain Dean' in mine, but it's definitely a needs must scenario on the rugged NE coast of England.

Yes to gorse having a lovely coconutty scent. I am praying that I get good weather again for my birthday this year. I spent the whole day last year meandering through our nature reserve in beautiful sunshine surrounded by gorse in full bloom (May birthday) and I intend to do the same this year.

I have finished our cut comb honey. Now I need to get back to candle making. I bought a selection of pots to use as vessels from Søstrene Grenes at the weekend and DD has requested a green one with a mixed citrus aroma!

Happy Candlemass all

Look what is chilling to then go into ice cream maker!

Happy candlemass all. Well, 4 days ago we booked a hol and are now staring out over a volcano! It’s 20° and I have a pile of books on the kindle. The pools are heated and I had a lovely swim before we got a bit of drizzle. Rest of the time is looking sunnier.

That’s a lovely share from Nigel, @RainbowZebraWarrior and a totally epic dream. Excitement over his new book from us all! I see on insta that his pal Edmund DeWaal is in Japan. There is a ceramics installation at the Hepworth that I must see, curated by Edmund.

@frozendaisy that looks lovely.

waving to @EphemeraleEudemonia

Happy holidays @Bimblesalong! Must go and look at the Hepworth info now - I love that place.

Coming back to this thread has made me hungry! I want to raid @PrizedPickledPopcorn's fridge in particular :)

I have had a Waitrose delivery and have chicken, fresh tuna, smoked trout and a couple of steaks to do something with. Also peppers, sweetcorn, chicory, and lovely big radishes. I had a nice salad for lunch with some of the roast veg from yesterday, sprinkled with seeds inspired by @RainbowZebraWarrior

I've been trying to find a way to get a dip in cold water - been told it can be great for long COVID, but there's nowhere easily accessible at the moment (I don't drive - used to go wild swimming with friends who gave me a lift, and I miss that, but feels a bit full-on for right now). I love a plunge pool but am not paying for a sauna-type place just for the cold bit! Am trying the 'turn the water cold at the end of your shower' thing which does sort of work but isn't as nice. I've just had a fit note for another month of reduced hours/ extra breaks at work which feels like a good safety net.

Gorse does indeed smell lovely and reminds me of particular little hill in Scotland I used to climb up as a child. I'll have to look out for Coronilla.

Planning a trip to Sostrene Grene at the weekend, funnily enough - it always makes me feel very calm in there (more shops should have classical music). Always go with a particular friend and wander round very slowly - it's like therapy.

In the light of our previous chat, I’m trying hard to spend £80 on roses and coronilla, but my card payment won’t go through 😬 They’ve been on the list of things to buy since last summer. Grr. If it doesn’t go through I’ll end up not getting them again!

Success!

Oh wow. That looks delicious! I love making ice cream and make a mean honey and vanilla one. I think you've inspired me to make a batch this weekend.

Oh no. Hope you get it sorted. I'ts so annoying when you think 'right, I'm going to do this' then your plans are scuppered.

PrizedPickledPopcorn Can you place the order by phone?